Keith Groller: Al Blount let go as Becahi's boys basketball coach

February 21, 2011

Al Blount had a meeting with the Bethlehem Catholic administration on Monday in which he was told he was being let go as the Golden Hawks' boys basketball coach.

Blount coached Becahi for three seasons and posted a record of 24-42. The Golden Hawks were 6-16 in the just completed regular season, 1-13 in the Lehigh Valley Conference. Their lone win was over Dieruff.

"We met with Al today and we decided that in the best interests of the program and the kids, it was time to open up the position," said Mike Grasso, Becahi's Dean of Students. "I think Al understood and accepted where we were coming from.

"It was great to have him around for three years and we wish him well in his future endeavors, but this is something we felt we had to do at this time."

Blount missed games each of the past two seasons as a result of getting ejected from games stemming from disagreements with officials. Those infractions, along with the losing record, were hard to ignore.

His teams were entertaining and helped to produce three 1,000-point scorers in Pedro Perez, his son Al Blount and Jake Hungarter, who led the league in scoring at 24.4 points per game and 22.3 ppg overall.

As we type this at 8 p.m. Monday, We have a phone message to Blount and await a return call. He is attending his son's playoff game at Northampton Community College.

Grasso said Blount was prepared for the decision.

"He was very gracious," Grasso said. "It's always hard to let somebody go, but I think he looked at the whole picture and realized that it was time to make a change."

Grasso said a committee will be formed to select a new head coach and the school is accepting applications.

Among the candidates will be both of Blount's assistants, Bob Wootsick and Dan Eddinger.

Wootsick said the news didn't surprise him.

"We kind of knew it was coming," he said. "Al's a great guy, but this was probably what's best for the program."